END THE DESECRATION OF FENTON GREAT WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918

Fenton Town Hall and the magnificent Great War Memorial contained within are under serious threat of demolition. Made from Minton tiles and 4m x 3m in dimension, the Great War Memorial remembers 498 men from Stoke-on-Trent who gallantly fell in service of their country. For many who were never recovered it is their grave.

Worryingly, the memorial's size and weight precludes its relocation: it is deeply embedded into the very fabric of the building in a wall at the top of a flight of stairs. And neither the memorial nor the Town Hall is protected as a recent application for listing status was rejected.

Consequently there could be severe repercussions for the hall, memorial and community should it fall into the wrong hands.

The Town Hall, till recently Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates' Courts, was put on the market for private development by the department responsible for its disposal, The Ministry of Justice, in January 2013, for £500,000.

Your signature will help the community, in association with a reputable regeneration charity, transform the building into an exciting venue which will make the Great War memorial accessible to all to appreciate in a free and unhindered manner for the first time since 1968, when the town hall became exclusively a Magistrates, bring in jobs and growth to the area, whilst improving the profile of the local and wider community.

To reiterate: we ask you to sign this petition in requesting the Ministry of Justice put a hold on the sale of the building to private developers and listen to the community's ideas for the town hall; not only then will we ensure the preservation of this fabulous piece of heritage, but we, as a society, can also state with honesty that in this centenary year ALL our WW1 heroes have been treated equally and with dignity.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of JusticeShailesh Vara MP

and 1 other

Permanent Secretary - The Ministry of JusticeUrsula Brennan

We respectfully request the Ministry of Justice withdraw the sale of Fenton Town Hall to private developers.

My signature asks you to consider the proposals put forward by the community of Fenton, in association with the urban regeneration charity Urban Vision, which will transform the hall into an exciting venue, bringing in jobs and growth to the area, whilst improving the profile of the local and wider community. The proposals would also make the Great War memorial accessible to all to appreciate in a free and unhindered manner for the first time since 1968, when the town hall became exclusively a Magistrates.

By giving back Fenton Town Hall to the community for which it was built in 1888, not only will we ensure the preservation of a fabulous piece of heritage, which cannot be guaranteed through a covenant, but we, as a society, can also state with honesty that in this centenary year ALL our WW1 heroes have been treated equally and with dignity.